Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1887-02-25

nally before the House the gentleman
from Indiana (Mr. Matson) had de-
clored IL WIS not pension bill, but
purely charitable measure, AMI vet
that gentleman now wanted 10 pass the
bill over the veto.
in reply TO the gentleman from Ohio
(Grosyenor), who had discovered that he
Bragg was a presidential agent, he
would soy that the Grand Army Of the
Republic at IFS last graQd encampment
had passed resolutions conforming the
service pension of $S month. He
then proceeded TO analyze the bill and
point out what he regarded as its
vitality evil features. 1t would, he said,
grant pensions TO men who had served
from December, 1864, 10 June. 1865.
Who were those men? They were the
scum Of the earth; they were the
scum-eye, and the dregs. They stayed
in their homes until they were bought
bought by men who speculated in
blood-paid from 800 TO $500, with the
private assurance that they were ply
sically so defective that all they
had to do was 10 go to a hospital
and not endanger their precious
carcasses. Gentlemen talked about
soldiers beingin almshouses. The men
who were found there were men who
bad come from them, and who when
they left the army had lapsed into their
old conditions. No true, brave soldier
need ever go to the poor-house. The
men who went there were native there.
They had no self-respect, no character.
They lay down and opened their mouths
for the tCat to suck.
Mr. Steele, Of Indiana, interiected
remark.
Mr. Bragg said that he knew that
gentleman who had just interrupted
him. If he dared vote his conviction
he would vote as he Bragg did. He
knew gentlemen who had committed
themselves day after day in opposition
to the principle Of the bill and were
grateful for the veto ICries OF "WhO
are they ?"l j know what | am talk
ing about. have heard them. Re
pcated cries of "Name them" "Name'
Your man" 4" You can't do it," and
much noise and confusion.
"The Republican congressman, all
of them" was Mr.. Bragg's reply,
which was greeted with mingled APP
plause, laughter, and ieers.
The spectators who filed the gale
ries to their utmost capacity, and who
listened eagerly to all that was said on
the floor, now took part in the demon
strations of disapproval and approval,
and though without adding to the noise
and confusion sufficiently to justify the
Speaker in ordering the clearing of the
galleries, gave vent to their feelings
until the close Of the debate by fire.
quent applause.
Mr.. Bragg declared that the press of
the country was opposed to the bill.
Those gentlemen who set up aloft
pointing TO the press gallery might
some time or other turn this big pen
sion boom into a much larger boom
crang in some 9cntleman's district.
Applause
1--WE have Jared as well in our dis
tricts as the gentleman has in his, " ex-
claimed Mr. Henderson, of Iowa, and
this allusion TO Mr.. Bragg's failure to
secure denomination was greeted with
loud and continued laughter on the Re
publican side.
Mr.. Bragg repeated that the press
was opposed to the bill. The great Re-
publican papers Of his State stood by
the President the great Republican
papers of Ohio sustained the Presi-
dent the great Republican papers of
Pennsylvania stood side by side with
the President; the papers of New
York. almost without distinction of
party, stood by the President that
gallant soldier, the Governor of Maine,
Chamberlin, stood by the President.
Yes, cried Mr.. Boutelle, "and he
stands alone in Maine. Applause on
the Republican side. - speak for
Maine" lJeers on the Democratic side.
and cries Of Sorry for Maine.
Mr.. Bragg, continuing The great
soldier Palmer, of Illinois, stood by the
President; Governor Cox, of Ohio.
stood by the President; Old Dan
Sickles, OF the Third army corps, said
that the veto was a most glorious deed
brave men Of all parties stood by the
President. 1t was only little minds
that vent buzzing about like insects
around the lines that opposed him.
Mr.. Henderson, Of Iowa (consemptu-
ouslyl: "You stand by the President.
MIR. Bragg: "No staff commissary
can ever excite me. | am speaking for
what | consider the soldiers interest.
The largest Grand Army post IN my
| State yesterday voted not TO ask the
members Of Congress to go against the
| President. 1t is only the class of gen
ucmen who hang around Grand Army
posts. and who crowd themselves in to
oct five dollars week, and to live upon
their comrades, who are making this
Grand hue and cry. The soldiorprefersto
stand by his record and asks not that
Congress shall mark him as a beggar
He wants to have it understood that he
is in private life as he was i'll the army,
a soldier fighting for the maintenance
of the Union. loving his country and
not asking to be supported by 1t.
Why? Look at the effect. The Con
fedcrate soldiers, without hope, are
toiling day by day and exhibiting a
thrift, industry, and energy never eX-
pected of them while the northern man,
INDEPENDENT, self-reliant, Industrious
energetic, and enterprising, hgs behind
into idlencss. Why? Because he is
waiting for his stipend to come from
the Government, and when that stipend
comes it is spent quickly, and ii he
comes from the poor-house he lapse'
hack into that position and waits for
another stipend. Humanity only need
70 he encouraged to do nothing. We
are all liable to drop into a do-nothln9
policy if we can get somebody to sup
port us, and it is not good public policy
FOR MS to legislate to encourage vaga
bondism, whether among our soldiers
or citizens.
Mr.. Steele, of Indiana: How abou
the Mexican pension bill?
Mr.. Bragg: | have said that ! wlshec
the President had vetoed it. 1t is init
mated that the bill passed because l
benefits Confederates. | ask any on
, of you-bigoted as you may bel yo,l
) did not get some of the pork. You al
| voted for the bill, and now you hay
discovered that it is mOnstroslty.
} MIR. Morrison, Of Illinois lnmy tern
= of service have voted for every pen
, | e;on hill nrespntpd In this time tn